Gainsbourg, toute une vie

Serge Gainsbourg died on March 2, 1991, at the age of 62. If the general public has remained on his television appearances of the 80s, the fact remains that Gainsbourg had several careers before these last years. With Gainsbourg stripped of his masks, this is the theme of this self-portrait documentary: "In the end, I was left with the watermark of this shy and secretive child who implies candor, innocence, insubordination and savagery". Each sequence of this modest and passionate portrait reveals a secret, intimate, funny and touching Gainsbourg, at a good distance from Gainsbarre, his last public face.

Directed by Stéphane Benhamou, Sylvain Bergère, Gainsbourg, toute une vie leans on a strong ensemble — Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin, Charlotte Gainsbourg — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2021.